Waggin' Tales Pet Blog

Kitten season – the time of year where animal shelters and rescues are inundated with litters of felines … and it’s going on now.

What will happen to all of these little ones, and the ones that will be born later this year and the ones born to those youngsters also not spayed? Will each one find a special home? Doubtful.

More than one million dogs, cats, puppies and kittens are euthanized in animal shelters annually, according to the ASPCA. Between strays (especially stray cats and kittens) which aren’t reclaimed by owners and animals that aren’t adopted (only about half of the animals that go into shelters are adopted, the ASPCA notes), sadly many animals, especially cats and kittens, lose their lives. That would be less so if more were spayed/neutered, and therefore, not contributing to the population and to the numbers needing to be adopted.An unspayed female cat and her offspring can contribute several thousand additional cats in a lifetime. Here are a few “cat facts” listed on Georgia’s Fayette Humane Society’s website:

An average cat has between 1 and 8 kittens per litter and 2 to 3 litters each year.

During her reproductive life, one female cat could have more than 100 kittens.

A single pair of cats and their many kittens can produce as many as 420,000 more kittens in only seven years.

Animal shelters and rescue organizations become overwhelmed with the number of kittens brought to them during “kitten season.” This makes for a very good reason to fix one’s pets/cats.

Many myths exist about spaying and neutering, and most are just that: myths. Here are some facts about pets that are fixed:

They tend to be better behaved.

They tend to be more affectionate.

Spayed females don’t attract unwanted, aggressive males nor do they exhibit the nervous behaviors from hormonal changes and cry piteously for a mate.

Neutered males are less likely to mark territory (such as your couch!) and they are less likely to roam.

Because they don’t roam as much and because they make better house pets, they are less likely to die – from fights, being hit by cars, or getting a disease, like rabies or distemper, from other outdoor animals.

Lack of homes and pet overpopulation is a serious national, regional, state and community problem –so let’s fix the problem by fixing our pets – we can all help stop the “littering” problem and help our animal shelters and rescues better deal with “kitten season.”​Another way to help during kitten season? Adopt! With a few more days of June left, the month designated as Adopt-A-Shelter-Cat, you are likely to find a wonderful feline friend, whether kitten or adult cat – perhaps at for a discounted adoption fee. Visit your local animal shelter, humane society, or pet rescue organization, and add a purring, furry friend to your household!

June is Adopt-a-Shelter-Cat Month, a time to bring to light the millions of cats who are in need of homes. Because spring and early summer are considered “kitten season,” a time when thousands more cats and kittens need care and new homes, animal shelters and rescues across the country designate June as Adopt-A-Shelter-Cat Month.

Here is a short list of things you can do to help, whether or not you can adopt:

If you’re able and have been thinking about adding a cat to your home, this a good time to do so. Many shelters and rescues reduce their adoption fees for cats during this month. So, if you can, adopt a cat in June.

Contact your local rescue or shelter and learn what their wish list is and then donate things like cat litter, cat food, and cleaning products, or other items on that list.

Donate money to your local shelter or rescue. Not only do these groups need funds for organizational costs, but medical vet bills can pile up, especially with the added number of litters of kittens brought in.

Sign up to be a foster parent to help the shelter rescue and save more mamma cats and their babies.

Volunteer at your local rescue or shelter, playing with the cats (or walking the dogs), or however else the organization may need volunteers to serve.

Spay and/or neuter your own pets, including your cats, and encourage your friends and members of your community to do the same. Don’t add to the cat overpopulation (and therefore, death) problem.

Spread the word about kindness by talking with your children, your friends, and others about cat adoption, volunteering, and donating during this month.

By helping organizations that help cats, whether it’s through actual adoption, by volunteering, through community education, or by donating funds and supplies, you are helping cats in need during this special time of year.